CKNW Editorial
for May 12, 2000

The health care crisis in Canada is real and it's acute. What is troubling is that a broad base of left wing feeling is that there can be no debate that involves the participation of the private sector ... to be accurate any further participation since the private sector is involved at several levels. That's why I was pleased to hear Premier Roy Romanow yesterday concede that other systems must be looked at.

The night before last I moderated a panel discussion at the Vancouver Club, to which I've belonged for 34 years which was for members and guests only.

There was a demonstration outside the club and members and guests were subjected to verbal abuse and had their pictures taken in an obvious attempt to intimidate them. The concern expressed was that somehow members of an elite club were having a private meeting that would lead to the destruction of medicare as we know it. I found it interesting that two unions organized this - both of them part of the health care industry - would be so upset at the exercise of free speech by people at a private meeting. I wonder if the leaders of these unions would agree to have members of the Vancouver Club attend their private meetings? In all events, however sincere these people were they have a huge investment in the healthcare system staying precisely the same as it has always been except they would like to see more public money thrown at it so they have a bigger pie to share.

I've made this point before but I will make it again. We must make arrangements now with the private sector for their help in financing our system, when we can do so on our terms, or wait until we are forced to do so on their terms.

The plain fact is that even if we streamlined the system, in every way possible, we simply cannot afford to go on as we are. Allan Rock, without any helpful suggestions, is saying that provinces like Alberta are in defiance of the National Health Act. It's wise to remember what that act is - it's not a health act but a funding act. The constitutional responsibility for health rests with the provinces. The National Health Act simply lays down the terms under which the federal government will contribute to the provinces. When I was Health Minister 20 years ago approximately half the money spent by the province came from federal transfer payments. Now it is 15 cents on the dollar or even less. Provinces simply cannot maintain the services an open ended publicly financed health care system under these circumstances. So what are they to do? If there is no more money coming from Ottawa and they have no further tax room with their own citizens, something has to give. In fact, the only other source of income is from delegating some of the responsibility to the private sector.

Does this mean we inherit the American model as the left cries? Will we be bound to admit the Americans under NAFTA?

No ... this is the bogeyman of the left. But what is happening is that we will have to take in private capital without a plan in place to make sure we have control of the situation. We will do it piece meal as we now see happening in Alberta.

Think about this as a common sense matter. Premier Klein is not bound to the medicare system under any law. Allan Rock can't stop him or any other premier from doing as he damn well pleases. All Mr Rock can do is withhold money under the Canada Health Act. But Mr Klein is entitled to say, we don't need your lousy 13% - we'll finance the entire health care system ourselves and do it all our way.

This isn't idle speculation ... this is the logical outcome in the wealthier provinces. It's very easy for Allan Rock to pontificate from on high about the five basic principles of health care, uttered and subscribed to long, long ago when things were much different, because Mr Rock has no obligation to run the system and face the people it fails.

No there must be the great debate ... but it cannot be with one large source of money, the private sector, a forbidden argument.